LAS VEGAS, April 27 /PRNewswire/ -- Southwest Gas Corporation (NYSE: SWX)
announced consolidated earnings of $0.81 per share for the first three months
of 2000, $0.12 less than the $0.93 earned during the first quarter of 1999.
Consolidated net income was $25.2 million, compared to $28.3 million in the
prior period.

According to Michael O. Maffie, President and Chief Executive Officer,
"February 2000 was the warmest February in the past ten years for our three
largest operating areas: Phoenix, Las Vegas, and Tucson. However, continued
strong customer growth and attention to operating efficiencies and cost
controls offset a significant portion of the effects of warm weather."

First quarter 2000 gas operating margin was $144 million on revenues of
$267 million. Differences in heating demand caused by weather variations
between periods resulted in a $6 million margin decrease, as both periods
experienced warmer-than-normal temperatures. Offsetting the weather-related
impacts was an increase of $6 million in operating margin due to customer
growth, as the Company served 65,000, or five percent, more customers than a
year ago. As a result, operating margin was unchanged between periods.

Operating expenses increased $5.7 million due to continued expansion and
upgrading of the gas system to accommodate customer growth. Net financing
costs increased $1.8 million, resulting primarily from additional borrowings
to finance construction expenditures, and higher interest rates on
variable-rate debt.

For the twelve months ended March 31, 2000, net income was $36.2 million,
or $1.17 per share, compared to $39.9 million, or $1.36 per share, during the
twelve-month period ended March 31, 1999.

Operating margin increased $1.9 million between periods. Customer growth
contributed $17 million in incremental margin. However, weather in the
current period was nine percent warmer than the prior period, resulting in a
$15 million offsetting decrease in operating margin from weather-sensitive
customers.

Operating expenses increased $17.2 million, or five percent, as a result
of servicing additional customers. Net financing costs increased
$2.5 million, or four percent.

Utility income tax expense, exclusive of changes in pretax income,
decreased $4 million between periods. The decrease was attributed to the
favorable resolution of certain federal and state income tax issues during the
current period, and the recognition of income tax liabilities for unrelated
tax issues in the prior period.

Southwest Gas Corporation provides natural gas service to approximately
1,290,000 customers in Arizona, Nevada and California. Its service territory
is centered in the fastest-growing region of the country.

This press release may contain statements which constitute
"forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Securities Litigation
Reform Act of 1995 (Reform Act). All such forward-looking statements are
intended to be subject to the safe harbor protection provided by the Reform
Act. A number of important factors affecting the business and financial
results of the Company could cause actual results to differ materially from
those stated in the forward-looking statements. These factors include, but
are not limited to, the impact of weather variations on customer usage,
natural gas prices, the effects of regulation/deregulation, the timing and
amount of rate relief, changes in capital requirements and funding,
acquisitions, and competition.